What's New in the Region
Global Learning and Social Responsibility
Lasallian educators throughout the country will gather from November 20 to 22 in St. Louis, Missouri, for the annual Huether Lasallian Conference. In line with the conference theme of "Global Learning and Social Responsibility through a Lasallian Education," the Regional Education Board planning committee have put together an extensive program to provide participants with a global understanding of the Lasallian educational mission. (More...)
In early October, Calvert Hall received a call from St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Baltimore, Maryland. One of their residents, Joseph Barranco '52, is a hockey fan and one of his wishes was to talk to players from Calvert Hall. Patrick Goheen, Andrew Klick, Doug Parker, Joey Vonakis and Head Coach Mike Sharmek visited with Mr. Barranco several times in October to fulfill his wish. As soon as Mr. Barranco saw the team, he perked up and began discussing his hockey career and how he helped establish a team at Calvert Hall in the early 50s. He noted that Brother Andrew DiNoto was the hockey moderator at that time. Mr. Barranco was presented with a gold jacket, a Calvert Hall Hockey hat, a card and a game-used puck. He also posed for a picture and prayed with the players and coach. Mr. Barranco's experience with the players has been very positive and future visits have been scheduled.
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Mario Chiodo's sculpture Faith, Integrity, Scholarship hangs on the wall of the Hofmann Student Center of De La Salle High School in Concord, California. This powerful work of art was a gift from the Varni family to the school. The 40-foot long mural depicts the images of 26 men and women who the artist considers to have made extraordinary contributions to humanity, including our Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. The artwork was blessed at this year's President's Circle Reception held last September 14. The event program lists the "Champions for Humanity" with a brief description of their individual contributions.
Brother George Van Grieken's (San Francisco District) "Soul for Soul--The Vocation of the Child in Lasallian Pedagogy" is included in the recently published The Vocation of the Child. The book looks at the different ways in which God demonstrates his intentions for the lives of children before they grow up. The authors explore throughout whether it is possible for adults to either squander their children’s vocations or instead to help discover and embrace them.The publication is part of a series on Religion, Marriage, and Family by Eerdmans Publishing Company.
The editor of this volume, Patrick McKinley Brennan, is currently the John F. Scarpa professor for Catholic Legal Studies at Villanova University. He was a student of Brother George when he was in the seventh and eighth grades at the boarding school at Mont La Salle in Napa. When he began this project, he was determined to include a chapter on the Lasallian education that he found so formative and key in his own life journey. (To order the book, click on the cover photo.)
Remembering Brother John Johnston
On October 11 we commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Brother John Johnston. On this occasion, we remember how he inspired us with his vision, his love, his humility, his spirituality, his perseverance, and his dedication. The fall issue of De La Salle Today honors the legacy of Brother John and the leadership he provided to the Institute at a time when the impact of the changes introduced by Vatican II was reverberating throughout the Catholic Church and the Brothers were challenged with the new realities. Brother John has been instrumental in defining for us the role of the Lasallian Mission in the 21st century. We have been blessed by his presence among us.
